Chad Mendes
Active 2011–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 85.0
Scouting report
An NCAA Division I All-American wrestler out of Cal Poly and Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, Chad "Money" Mendes was a featherweight title challenger known for power double-legs and a heavy overhand right. He is from Hanford, California, and fought Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor for the title, with an athletic base backed by a 92 Wrestling rating, 88 Boxing, and 85 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
After dropping a title challenge to Jose Aldo in early 2012, Mendes went on a four-fight knockout run, stopping Cody McKenzie, Yaotzin Meza, Darren Elkins, and Clay Guida with power punches. His NCAA Division I wrestling base, right hand, and physical strength are reflected in a 92 Wrestling and 86 Boxing score during this run through the division rankings.
In 2014, Mendes pushed Jose Aldo to a five-round decision loss at UFC 179 in Rio, then stopped Ricardo Lamas in round one. Stepping in on short notice at UFC 189 in July 2015, he faced Conor McGregor for the interim belt, leading with wrestling before getting stopped in round two. His top control and developed striking justify his 92 Wrestling and 88 Boxing.
Following a knockout loss to Frankie Edgar in late 2015, Mendes did not compete in 2016 or 2017. His wrestling pedigree and power-punching threat maintained his rating benchmark, including a 92 Wrestling and 88 Boxing, across the database for this period.
Chad Mendes, the wrestler who learned to swing
Chad Mendes came out of Cal Poly and Team Alpha Male as a proper wrestler, but the fighter people remember threw a big overhand right and ended fights with it. He earned two title shots against Jose Aldo. The first ended in eight seconds, and the second went the distance and Aldo won the decision. In a draft he is a clean source of wrestling and a dangerous right hand.
Mendes attribute by attribute
Boxing. Better than his reputation. The right hand is heavy and he sits down on it, and his footwork lets him time exchanges rather than brawl.
Kickboxing. Functional. He does not lean on kicks, and his best moments come from hand traps and level changes.
Wrestling. The foundation. He shoots with force and finishes doubles, and his takedowns feed straight into ground-and-pound.
BJJ. The gap. He is not known as a submission threat and tends to look for position instead of a finish.
Strength. Powerful for a small frame. It shows most when he is driving through a double leg or stuffing a takedown.
Durability. He kept fighting after Aldo hurt him in their first meeting and was still competitive when the rematch went the full five rounds.
Cardio. He works fast and stays explosive across rounds, which made him a problem for opponents who gassed early.
Fight IQ. Smart enough to blend wrestling with his boxing and to pick moments when a shot is available.
What to bank on: Wrestling
Wrestling is the anchor here. It lets you dictate where the fight happens and burns opponents' energy while he does it. Draft him if your team needs someone who controls positions and makes each round easy to score.
Where he is thin: BJJ
Mendes was rarely known for finishing on the ground. If a rival gets him to the mat and works submissions, he depends on scrambling back up. If the rest of your roster also lacks a ground game, you may want a grappler alongside him.
Keep exploring
Closest featherweight profiles to Chad Mendes, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Josh Emmettbest boxing 90 · weakest bjj 72
- Dan Igebest durability 88 · weakest bjj 78
- Dennis Bermudezbest cardio 88 · weakest bjj 74
- Mirsad Bekticbest wrestling 86 · weakest kickboxing 76
- Featherweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Chad Mendes's strongest attribute, Wrestling.
Draft Chad Mendes into your build
Chad Mendes enters the pool on any spin landing on featherweight between 2010 and 2017. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Chad Mendes is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Chad Mendes's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.